Back-rest.



J. REIGH.

BACK BEST.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 13, 1914.

Patented May 26, 1914.

INVENTOR WITNESSES COLUMBIA PIANOGRAPH C0,,WASHINGTON. D. E.

, object in thus inclining the section 2 sharply BACK-REST. r

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed March 13, 1914. Serial No. 824,401.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrra Enron, a citizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Back-Rests; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an appliance which, while especially desirableand useful for invalids willbe found to be a great advantage to peoplegenerally and it consists of certain novel features of construction andcombination of parts, the preferred form whereof will be hereinafterfully set forth in the following specifications and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application,Figure 1 shows an elevation of my invention, complete and ready for use.Fig. 2 is a central sectional view on dotted lines 2-2 of Fig. l andshowing certain parts in elevation.

For convenience of description, the various details of my invention andcooperating accessories will be designated by nu1ner als, the samenumeral applying to a corresponding part throughout the several views,but my invention limited only by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

In materializing my invention, I first provide a suitable frame, havingthe sides 1, the bottom section 2 and the top section 3, said parts ofthe frame being fashioned in any preferred way and of any desiredmaterial, size and shape and carries with it a cover ing of suitablematerial, preferably of open work or cane fabric as indicated by the nu-Ineral 4, it being understood that I reserve the right to form saidfabric of any suitable material and character. I wish to call particularattention to theconstruction and disposition of the section 2 of theframe, inasmuch as said member is inclined sharply inward, whereby onlythe lower edge thereof will come in contact with, or be secured to thecane or other fabric 4:, as is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The

inward is to insure that it will be wholl out of the way of contact withthe back of the person using my appliance, thereby insuring that theyielding cane fabric alone will, come in contact with the person, thusproducing a cushion efi'ect so desirable. In order that the backsupports, thus or otherwise constructed may be properly mounted andadjustably secured at any desired angle, I have provided the base member5 preferably one for each side of the frame work, having the frictionextensions 6 upon the lower edge thereof and I have also provided thebracing members 7 for the side sections 1, the said bracing sectionsbeing operatively connected to the ends of the base member 5 by theintermediate members 8, 9 and 10 which are all properly hinged togetherand to said members 5 and 7 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

It will be observed that when said members 8, 9 and 10 are disposed inthe same plane occupied by the member 7, they will have the effect ofextending the reach of said member 7 and thereby hold the back sectlonor support upward in a slightly in clmed position. When, however, it isdesired to incline the back support still farther, the member 8 isdisposed in the same plane occupied by the base member 5, leavlng thesections 9 and 10 occupying the same plane with the brace sections 7when, it will be seen that the back rest will occupy the positionindicated by the dotted lines 11. When it is desired to incline the backrest still farther, it follows that the hinge member 9 may be broughtdownward in the same plane with the base member 5 and the member 8 willhave the effect of shortening the reach of the bracing section 7 therebydisposing the back rest in the position occupied by dotted lines 12. Bydisposing the hinge member 10 downward in the plane occupied by the basemember 5 the back rest is then brought into the position as indicated bythe dotted lines 13. The hinge members 8, 9 and 10, it will be observed,thus'serve as a reliable, efiicient and rigid form of brace whendisposed in the plane with the member 7 and they also serve as anextension of the base member 5 when disposed in a plane therewith. Itfurther follows that any desired adjustment as indicated may be quicklysecured as the hinge members will readily act and assume their properplaces by simply raising the back rest upward to the desired height. Itis further obvious that the back rest may be quickly disposed in itslowest or any intermediate position by moving said members slightlyoutward and they will act as the links of a chain and fall quickly intheir proper place as an extension to the base member 5. The frictionalextensions 6 serve a very desirable purpose inasmuch as they preventcasual movement of the back rest when disposed in its proper place insupporting the back of the invalid or other person. If desired, saidextension 6 may be provided with roughened or corrugated face andthereby insure a more reliable grasp upon the surface of the bed ormattress.

My invention may be made of any preferred material, of any desired sizeand shape as is obvious and when thus completed will be found to bestrong and durable and in every way reliable and eflicient in theperformance of its office. It will moreover be sanitary in everyparticular and at all times be easily kept in a clean condition. Byforming the fabric 4; of cane, a

thorough ventilation and a sanitary condi tion are assured. I prefer toform each of the side members 1 with the special curvature it formedthereon near the lower ends so as to more perfectly fit the contour ofthe back of the person using my back rest or sanitary support.

By the use of such an adjustable appliance, an invalid or other personusing it is thoroughly rested and thus avoids the necessity ofconstantly maintaining one position. By the construction, I haveprovided, it will be seen that my improved form of back rest is not onlyvery light and sanitary in its character, but also possesses a maximumamount of strength, and it will therefore prove very durable inpractice. The frame sections may be made in any desired way as byproviding suitable reinforcing dowels 15 or other equivalent means,while the bracing sections 7 may be suitably hinged or otherwise pivotedto said side members as indicated by the numeral 16.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. The herein described back rest comprising a suitable frame having anopen work covering, the lower section of said frame being inclinedinward at its upper edge to wholly clear said cover, a base memberhaving frictional extensions on the lower side thereof, and a pluralityof hinged mem bers operatively mounted whereby they may be extended toform an adjustable base extension between the frame and base memher.

2. A back-rest comprising a frame having a covering, a plurality of basemembers having corrugated projections depending therefrom to bite into afoundation so as to resist movement in a rearward direction, a pluralityof brace members hinged to the sides of said frame and a plurality ofmembers of different lengths hinged together to connect said bracemembers with said base members, said last mentioned members forming anadjustable base section to said base members when extended, and allowingof the back to be adjusted at different and unequal angles.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH REICH.

Witnesses:

SAML. W. Coonnnnn,

W. S. Frrz GERALD.

fiopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

